Sure, sure...Muskegon, MI may be near the bottom when it comes to unemployment.
But poverty?
Not so much as one might think.
Even though Muskegon, Michigan, has a high unemployment at 13.5%, a diminished number of people in the labor force, and even fewer jobs than we did even in 2009. We've broken free of being in the bottom 20 out of 372 statistical areas and are now 25th from the bottom (woot).
Yes. Yes. We have a lower unemployment level than we've had since January 2009, but we have fewer Employed people than we did this time in 2009, and the lowest August workforce than we've had since 1998.
Ain't pretty. Say what you will...But poverty?
Poverty?
Let's just say we're lower than nearly every state South of the Mason-Dixon line.
I wonder why that is.
OH YEAH!
It's cuz those states with MUCH higher poverty levels, despite higher employment levels, are Republican states.
It's pretty stark once you look at the map of high poverty in America.
Mint, the personal finance site, put together this chart of regional poverty in America based on statistics recently released by the Census Bureau. In 2009, poverty among Americans reached its highest level in 51 years. The states hardest hit include Louisiana, Mississippi and District of Columbia. States with the lowest poverty statistics include, Wyoming, Hawaii, New Jersey and Minnesota.
Roll over each state to see its poverty rate. Visit Mint Life for more information:
As it turns out, if you're unemployed in a Republican state, you're fucked. You're fucked. Your family is fucked. Your kids...fucked.
It's a very stark image of Republican principles in action. Kill the unions, kill social safety nets, punish the unfortunate, weaken the middle class. Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow.
Seriously, when a "prosperous" state like TEXAS has higher poverty rates than a crumbling economy like Michigan, that's HORRIFIC. Michigan's average poverty rate is around 14% while Texas's is over 16%. What the hell?
It should smack everybody who clings to the notion of the American Dream or not in the face and show them why these Republican maniacs should not be anywhere near a position of power for at least another decade or two. If we need to burn the lower to middle class in order to elevate the upper middle class and the rich...count me the fuck out.
This is what we're looking forward to if we let these Republican jerks take the House or Senate.